Anna smirked, the image of Abigor smirking flashed in front of Aria for a split second.
They were siblings, alright.
“How would you like when someone snatches an opportunity right from your hands?” Anna asked as Aria tilted her head in confusion.
“I’ll be mad?” she answered, not sure.
“That’s what happened to me for being an obedient, hardworking daughter in this family” regret dripped from her voice as Anna continued.
“Years of training to become the next leader. Even as a child I trained hard just to succeed my father” the memory of her practising karate and learning to handle the gun came rushing back.
“All that I did was taken away when Abigor was born. A boy” she gritted her teeth “My father snatched that opportunity from me, without even asking me and gave it to Abigor. And I was left to strengthen Mafia bonds, get married to an ally and give birth to sons”
Anna looked at Aria’s sympathetic eyes “that’s what it means to be a girl in this family, Aria. No matter how hard you work, they’ll always push you down”
“Why didn’t you try to run away?” Aria asked in a low voice as her eyes locked with Abigor’s sharp ones. He frowned when he saw his sister and Aria talking fondly. Like friends.
“Run away?” Anna scoffed “Where? When the whole nation is owned by him and now my brother”
A moment of silence followed as they both stared at Abigor and his father talking.
“Your father didn’t ask Abigor too right?” Aria said as Anna looked at her a little annoyed and confused at the same time.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“He was just as forced into this as you were” Aria continued with a sigh “being told from the day he was born that he had to work hard and inherit all this, would have been a huge burden. I cannot even imagine”
“That’s right, you cannot imagine” Anna snarled at her.
Aria rolled her eyes, temper was something that ran in the family along with good genes apparently “Now don’t get me wrong, I know what happened to you was probably the worst thing.”
Aria gulped down the wine “But, Abigor wasn’t given an option either. Did your father ever ask him what he wanted? Weren’t the both of you forced into this?”
All expressions left Anna’s face as she stared at Aria quietly. Millions of emotions stormed in her honeyed eyes.
“It’s just my opinion of course” Aria added almost immediately.
“I heard you had a meeting with the Spanish Mafia” Draven asked his son who was busy looking at his little companion at a distance. He had never seen his son show such interest in a lady before.
Abigor looked back at his father “Just a few pawns. Apparently the leader’s brother was killed” he mumbled, disinterested.
“That’s concerning” his father said with furrowed eyebrows “What did they want from you?”
“To help them investigate. I have no interest until they fulfill my condition though” he said as his father nodded in agreement.
“Gave them an extra week to consider” Abigor added.
“I’m sure you know what you are doing”
Abigor glanced at Aria again to find her in a deep conversation with his sister. “What the fuck are they talking about?” curiosity ate him alive.
“Salvador Paulo was the one who was killed, the in-charge of security in the Spanish Mafia” he said with a smirk as his father shook his head.
“I say we attack th-”
“Son” his father interrupted “You already have many enemies, don’t make more. And did you forget the Hayes-Paulo pact of peace we made after the war?”
“I know that’s what’s binding me. My hands are just itching to kill them” Abigor said remembering how many of his men were killed during the war, how many civilians became homeless, how many kids became orphans.
His father patted his shoulder “I know you are stressed but control your emotions. Emotions are just a hurdle, stop feeling useless things. What’s done is done, we cannot change it”
Abigor gave his father a side glance as he puffed out from his cigar.
“We are weapons, Abigor. Weapons to protect our Nation, our family and our Mafia. Weapons don’t weep-”
“Weapons don’t feel” Abigor completed his father’s life motto which he had heard from his childhood. His father laughed and patted his shoulder in appreciation.
“Go blow off some steam and have fun with your girl. Stop stressing for one day” his father said as he walked away, towards his mother who was busy laughing with her friends.
He again looked back to see both women talking, but this time Aria looked straight at him. He took slow steps towards them and stood a lot closer to them.
Their conversation immediately halted as both of them looked at him.
“My sweet brother is here” Anna mockingly said while Abigor chose to ignore her. He was so done with her snarky comments.
Anna stood up straight while fixing her beautiful dark red mermaid dress and gulping down the rest of the drink, slamming it against the bar table.
Aria remained expressionless as she watched Anna’s movements. Anna walked towards her brother and stood directly in front of him. Both stared at each other, neither of them refusing to back down.
But Anna’s next move surprised Abigor. Her left hand reached his cheeks as she rubbed it a little and offered a small smile “Good work, little brother”
His eyes widened as he stiffened in surprise. Anna walked away graciously as Abigor touched the spot where she caressed him ever so gently. The most affection he had ever received from his sister.
“What did you do to her?” he asked walking towards Aria and still looking surprised.
“Nothing” was her simple reply as she stood up “Can we go now?” she asked while looking at his wristwatch, noting that it was already 11:30 pm.
“Yes, let’s get out of here already” he said with a sigh.
.
.
“What did you two talk about?”
Abigor asked while driving through the city lights at night as Aria looked outside, enjoying the cold breeze.
She turned to look at him at his question “She told me how you used me to break off your engagement”
Abigor groaned and ran his hand through his hair, turning it into a mess “I just nullified it from a potential partner” he said through gritted teeth “that cheating bitch”